Organizational Issues FEDERAL TRADEMARK - The NCBPNP/N successfully completed the federal trademark application process and received official notification of trademark status for our certification credentials: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) Certification Growth BPNP Program Review - The NCBPNP/N noted continued growth in the number of graduate pediatric nurse practitioners programs seeking curriculum recognition through the NCBPNP/N. More than 90% of all graduate PNP programs currently meet the standards for PNP education published by the Association of Faculties of PNP Programs and noted through the NCBPNP/N's review process. Total Number of CPNPs actively certified and participating in certification maintenance activities (1977 to 1999) = approximately 7200 Approximately 650 new PNP graduates certify with the NCBPNP/N each year. The NCBPNP/N currently certifies more than 90% of all nationally certified pediatric nurse practitioners. Total Number of CPNs actively certified and participating in certification maintenance activities (1989 to 1999) = approximately 3200 More than 50 pediatric nurses have been certified this year. The NCBPNP/N currently certifies more than 75% of all nationally certified pediatric nurses. National Nursing Involvement The NCBPNP/N is an active member of national nursing organizations promoting and improving nurse practitioner education and practice including, The Alliance for Nursing Accreditation and the National Consortium for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education. The NCBPNP/N continues to support efforts to strengthen nurse practitioner practice at the state and national level. Certification Projects At the Fall, 2000 meeting of the Board of Directors the NCBPNP/N approved a new test blueprint for our national PNP exam. This blueprint reflects role delineation research completed in 1999 - 2000 that provided an update and comprehensive overview of the clinical practice of primary care pediatric nurse practitioners throughout the US. This new test blueprint will be implemented in 2002. Collaboration has begun with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses on the development of an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner certification program and exam. This exam is targeted for delivery in 2002. Collaboration continues on the development of the first international certification examination for general pediatric nurses. The Canadian Nurses Association and Canadian Association of Pediatric Nurses together with the NCBPNP/N will conduct a comprehensive role delineation survey of pediatric nurses in Canada and the US during the Fall, 2000. Results of this survey will be used to develop a comprehensive certification exam that will be used in both countries. This project represents the first joint international certification project in nursing. The new certification exam for pediatric nurses is expected to be available for administration to Canadian nurses and US nurses in late 2001. The NCBPNP/N will initiate construction of a Pediatric Pharmacology Self-Assessment exam in 2001. As an independent "take-home" exercise, this exam will be designed to provide pediatric health care providers the opportunity to update knowledge in pediatric pharmacology. It is expected that 10 contact hours will be awarded for this exercise. This exercise should be available in late 2001 or early 2002. Strategic Plan The NCBPNP/N will continue to focus on technology improvements including efforts to increase "on-line" services and added publication benefits to its certified nurses. Efforts will be made to seek opportunities to collaborate with other nursing certification organizations to strengthen pediatric nursing expertise in all delivery settings of the health care system.

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